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Main Ideas from What You Heard is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on naming the main idea of something a speaker said, aligned to Common Core standard SL.3.2. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 3 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Main Ideas from What You Heard

SL.3.2

NameDate

Circle the main idea of what you heard.

1.A librarian says: "The library is free. You can borrow ten books at a time and keep them for three weeks." What is the main idea?
  • A.Three weeks is a long time
  • B.Librarians like books
  • C.Anyone can borrow library books for free
2.A nurse says: "Washing your hands for twenty seconds gets rid of most germs. The soap does the work." What is the main idea?
  • A.Nurses wear uniforms
  • B.Washing well with soap removes germs
  • C.Twenty is a big number
3.A recycling worker says: "Rinse your cans and bottles. Food left inside can spoil a whole truckload." What is the main idea?
  • A.Trucks are big
  • B.Bottles are made of glass
  • C.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled
4.You hear on a podcast: "The Moon has no air and no wind, so footprints left there long ago are still there." What is the main idea?
  • A.Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away
  • B.The Moon is far away
  • C.People like podcasts
5.A crossing patrol says: "Stop at the curb, look both ways, and only cross when the road is clear." What is the main idea?
  • A.Cars drive fast
  • B.How to cross the road safely
  • C.Roads have curbs
6.A gardener says: "Worms are a garden's best friends. They mix the soil and let air and water reach the roots." What is the main idea?
  • A.Roots need water
  • B.Worms help gardens grow
  • C.Worms live underground
7.A dentist says: "Brush for two minutes, twice a day, and the sugar that harms your teeth is cleared away." What is the main idea?
  • A.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  • B.Dentists have chairs
  • C.Two minutes is short
8.A baker says: "Bread needs time. If you rush the rising, the loaf comes out flat and heavy." What is the main idea?
  • A.Bakers get up early
  • B.Some loaves are heavy
  • C.Bread must be given time to rise

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 3 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  2. 2.Washing well with soap removes germs
  3. 3.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled
  4. 4.Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away
  5. 5.How to cross the road safely
  6. 6.Worms help gardens grow
  7. 7.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  8. 8.Bread must be given time to rise

More practice for SL.3.2

Pick out the main ideas and details from something you heard or saw.

Teaching this next? Getting the Main Ideas From Listening is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to SL.3.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.